Calving Problems

It's fall calving season and we have had more than our share of problems this year.  The latest was a set of twins from a first calf heifer today.  The problem was they were 200 yards apart and the heifer wouldn't let them nurse. 

J found this one first without a mother.
Since we were on our way to visit family we were not in the truck so J had to sit in the back of the rav and hold the calf while I drove to the cow.
When he let the calf out the cow would lick it but not let it nurse.  The next step was then to get them all to the barn lot.
There J put the cow in the chute in order to let the calves nurse.  Hopefully tomorrow everything will be worked out.

Yard Work

I finally had a day to work in the yard.  Things have been growing wild the last two months (conditioning for the endurance ride in August, then getting the girls ready for the State Show this month has been very time consuming).

Last fall I threw some old gourds over the fence.  Well, they must have liked it there because they started to grow this summer.
I think there are 4 different varieties, none looking like the originals.
My butterfly bush has been very prolific with volunteers all over the yard.  I've potted a few to give away.  Any takers?
We have been blessed with an abundance of rain this year which means the grass in the yard has done quite well.  J mowed it today.  I think we could just about bale it for hay.
Instead, I've been raking it to mulch the garden so maybe there won't be so much chickweed in the spring.
Not a whole lot blooming right now, but the Endless Summer Hydrangea really is living up to it's name.

More Show Pics

V and Jessica
J with E and Pep headed for the show ring
Western pleasure pony champion.
V and Jessica with their first ribbon.
Horsemanship rail work.
V's last class, hunter pleasure pony.
The ride home.

State 4-H Horse Show 2009

We just got back today from 4 days of horse showing and camping in the trailer.  Everyone is tired but happy.

E had a very successful show.  3rd in western pleasure pony jr. rider first go (should have won but the dreaded missed lead), 3rd in jr. pony western horsemanship, 3rd in jr. horse and pony working western, qualified for the trail class (top 13 out of 35) then finally 1st in western pleasure 2nd go.  There was a tie for the high point award so they had a hack off which E won!

The big trophy is for that but it is a perpetual trophy so we have to take it back next year.  She qualifed for the western horsemanship classic but didn't place (jr. and sr. ponies and horses), and was 7th in the western pleasure pony classic (small and large ponies jr and sr. riders).
V did very well against the hunter compition.  She was 9th in hunter pleaure pony 14-15 year olds 1st go then 8th in the 2nd go.  She placed 8th in equitation after a grulling work out that included both posting and sitting trots without stirrups.  She said she couldn't feel her legs afterwards.  She also did not miss a lead in any class and Jessica didn't lay down after the last class like she has done for the past 2 years. (v was very worried that she would).

J made it through the show but I think he might have to watch the videos to see what happened.

I'll be posting more pictures this week.

Something other than Horses

I noticed I've been posting a lot about the horses lately so here is something a little different.
I found Mr. Toad went I went out to take the next picture.
We don't use the front door very often so the hornet's nest went unnoticed up until today.  The leaves were falling off the honeysuckle vine on the trellis in front of the electric meter which made it easier to see.  J knocked it down this evening.

So as not to leave the horse stuff out completely, I thought I would show a preview of the show jacket I'm making for E.  At present I am furiously sewing on sequence one piece at a time.  It should be ready for the State Show next week.  E wishes it was blue instead of pink.

Show Results

The girls had a fairly successful day Saturday.  It was very hot at dusty for the show and there was a large crowd.  Some of the classes had at least 15 entries.

Jessica acted beautifully warming up but I think she is worse than Todd was for knowing when the class is in and then acting up.  She laid down in the ring before the start of V's first class, then bucked during the canter in her second class.E had the largest class of 15 in western go as you please.  This show also had 2 ranch horse ridding classes which seems to be a good niche for Pep.  I think we need to look for more shows with this class.
You can hardly tell where E cut a chunk out of the middle of Pep's mane.  I think when we band it for the state show you won't be able to tell at all.
The placings ended up with V getting 3rd in intermediate rider walk/trot, 5th in intermediate w/t/c, and 2nd in open Hunt seat equitation (against several adults).

E was 5th in stock seat equitation walk/jog, 2nd in ranch horse horsemanship, and 1st in ranch horse riding.

Both need to work on picking up the correct lead when cantering and E needs to be able to tell which lead Pep is on without looking at me.

Horse Show Tomorrow

The girls are getting ready for a horse show tomorrow.  This will be the last one before the State show later this month.

I guess we'll see what all they need to work on for the next 2 weeks.

More Ride Pics

Here are a few more images from my ride Saturday.  I am mostly healed up and V rode Jessica today and she seems no worse for the wear.

I think this is the most muscle she's had since we bought her 3 years ago.
Most of the horses on the ride were Arabians.
The 50 mile ride started an hour before my ride so I was able to watch the beginning. When the timer said times in, the race was on.
I did have some assistance  at the end of the ride.  I was happy to see the eager help.